It has been a tumultuous year in South African politics, but we end it in slightly better shape than we started it – with a dangerous president increasingly running out of road, writes Arthur Christopher.

A man believed to be holding his teenage daughter hostage gestures after smashing a window. Australian police cordoned off a Sydney building in a tense standoff with the man who claimed to have a bomb. (Rick Rycroft, AP)

He cuts his hand as he throws a phone out of the window of the Australian law firm. (Torsten Blackwood, AFP)

Police run into the building and try to take the man into costody. (Rick Rycroft, AP)

The man believed to be holding a child hostage, looks out a window in suburban Sydney. (Rick Rycroft, AP)

Police officers take the 52-year-old man into custody after a 12 hour standoff. (Paul Miller, AP)

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Saving your profile

Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location.
If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a
location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to
take affect.

Your Location*

Weather*

Always remember my setting

Saving your settings

Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.